Visionseekers (Paperback)

~ Hank Wesselman (Author) "IN JANUARY OF 1995, I returned home from a month's fieldwork in Ethiopia in a state of high excitement..." (more)
Key Phrases: kahuna mystics, esteemed descendant, aka field, Kahu Sala, Chief Nainoa, Kahuna Nui (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Third in a series that began with Spiritwalker and continued with Medicinemaker, this chronicle of Wesselman's experiences as a modern-day shaman with an anthropology Ph.D. will appeal to followers of such New Age leaders as Michael Harner and Sandra Ingerman (who both blurbed the book). Fans of Carlos Casteneda and Dan Millman will also enjoy the novelistic feel of this story, which the author insists contains no fiction whatsoever. Wesselman describes visits with his fellow shaman and possible descendant or future (reincarnated) self, Nainoa, who lives somewhere on the West Coast of North America 5,000 years from now, after the complete demise of the Western world. Through shamanic journeying, the author enters Nainoa's mind, describing nature walks, visions and lessons from Hawaiian kahunas or mystics in detail. Claiming to have "looked into the face of God," to have been joined by Jesus in a shamanic healing practice, and to have been "chosen" to teach spiritual truths, the author sometimes appears more self-important than shamanic. Meanwhile, his habit of entering the spirit world through sexual ecstasy seems an easy target for ridicule. Wesselman's final warnings of environmental catastrophe and his hope for a better outcome through "an evolution of spirit" will be familiar to any reader of New Age literature. Still, Wesselman's delivery is a cut above the rest of the genre vastly superior to, for example, The Celestine Prophecy. Agents, Candice Fuhrman and Linda Michaels. (Apr.)Forecast: The popularity of New Age narratives bodes well for this book; a 10-city-radio satellite tour and ads in Yoga Journal and NAPRA will help catch the attention of die-hard fans of the genre, though others will be immediately turned off by the title.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

In 1893, the sovereign nation of Hawaii was overthrown at gun point by the U.S. military, and Hawaii became a colony of a foreign power. Much of the native culture was systematically destroyed during the 20th century or usurped by the occupying power and reduced to the status of public relations advertisements for the Hawaii visitors bureau. This act of history separates these two books. Kupihea investigates the power of native Hawaiian shamanism in order to rehabilitate native Hawaiian culture and spirituality, while Wesselman's exploits the symbols of native Hawaiian spirituality for his own philosophical and economic ends. Kupihea, a native Hawaiian and descendant of Hawaiian Kahunas (roughly translated as shamans), writes eloquently about the destruction of Hawaiian spiritual values by the invasion of a new culture that emphasizes materialism and a lack of respect for the past. The backbone of the narrative is his own personal story of seeking out the last remaining Kahunas, who taught him how to hear the ancestral voices still echoing in Hawaii and how these voices held the key to returning to a spiritual balance with humankind and nature. Anthropologist Wesselman has written extensively about spirituality and conducts workshops on shamanism and other New Age topics. In this third book in his "Spiritwalker" trilogy (Spiritwalker, Bantam, 1995; Medicinemaker, LJ 7/98), he investigates what it means to be a scientist/mystic in an age of high technology and delves into the rise of modern shamanism, along with time travel, spirit possession, and conveyance of the souls of the dead, all the while expounding on the "true" nature of the human spirit. Unfortunately, his investigations result in a regurgitation of beliefs already articulated in his previous books, and he uses the images, symbols, and rituals of Hawaiian culture to enhance his narrative superficially. The background scenery could have easily been any other "exotic" culture. Kupihea's book is highly recommended for all libraries; Wesselman's is not recommended. Glenn Masuchika, Rockwell Collins Information Ctr., Cedar Rapids, IA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 326 pages
• Publisher: Hay House (January 28, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401900283
• ISBN-13: 978-1401900281
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #107,973 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars sharing transcendent experiences, August 9, 2002

By	Michele Eshleman (Colorado, US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Visionseeker: Shared Wisdom from the Place of Refuge (Hardcover)

All other considerations aside, Visionseeker--like Spiritwalker and Medicinemaker--is a good story. By the way, if you haven't read any yet--READ THEM IN ORDER! It's interesting to consider what a possible future might look like. I like to hear about Wesselman's shamanic/visionary encounters and lessons with Nainoa. Unlike some other reviewers, I didn't read this with a particular agenda and specific questions I needed to have answered. If a pressing question came up, I think I'd just write to Dr. Wesselman and ask. I read on to book three because I enjoyed the other two and find the "characters" to be multi-dimensional, aware and very human. Their consciousness is expanding with each visit. Some of their epiphanies help to clarify my own thinking--things I've been turning over in my own mind. The author has a gift for articulating hard-to-define concepts, particularly regarding the nature of the soul. I have a stake now in knowing what happens to these characters, and how they continue to learn and make sense of their uncommon relationship.

Wesselman is not painting of picture of 21st century life, culture and morality when he visits Nainoa. It's a foreign point of view in most respects. Nor do I think the author is omniscient when it comes to life in that time and place. He is learning as he goes and gathering information and understanding. Readers have to be aware of these things. Personally, I read the books with a curiosity about the possibility of a spiritual connection across time. If you believe in the possibility of reincarnation, his narrative is intriguing. What if he and Nainoa share a portion of an enduring soul? I don't think he is asking us to believe what he is saying beyond a shadow of a doubt; we didn't experience what he did, so how can we? But I respect his experience/his beliefs about them--and I think they contain something of value for us.

One of the things I liked best about this particular text was that he goes into specifics about his shamanic practices. As he begins to develop some control over his visionary states, he is also able to share the knowledge he's gained more clearly. He discusses the energy/levels of soul and seems to be honing in on what connects him and his ancestor in these visionary states. I haven't had a conscious experience quite like his, but I've had enough powerful visions in dreaming and other moments to give me an open mind about it.

With regard to the sexuality that a few have taken issue with...if it's part of the overall experience and story, why should it be filtered out? Some might think it's overdone--I hear similar complaints about Auel's Clan of the Cave Bear series--but sexuality and intimate partnerships are part of life. I found them to be tastefully and lovingly captured, though a few could make you blush.... For some who follow a more mystical path, I have heard that you CAN launch some journeying via sexual buildup and release. I can't confirm or deny it myself, though I have spoken to people who claim it happens and I've read about it more than once. You might think it's new age mumbo jumbo--that's your prerogative, but as far as I'm concerned Mr. Wesselman is the author and he gets to choose what goes in and what he feels is important or worthwhile to share. Seems rather courageous to me to lay bare the details of one's life so openly. It's also inspiring to read about couples who love and respect each other with passion and tenderness, though it might not always be comfortable to read coming from our cultural framework.

At any rate, author/mythologist Joseph Campbell cautions that when the hero comes back after his transformational journey with gifts for his/her community, a lot of times those gifts turn to ashes in his hands, because the the community is often not ready/able to understand and receive those gifts--yet.

Keep the stories coming, Dr. Wesselman! We'll embrace whatever gifts we are ready for.

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Third Time is the Charm, October 19, 2001

By	"ssipdx" (Eugene, Or United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Visionseeker: Shared Wisdom from the Place of Refuge (Hardcover)

I began reading about Shamanism, when the Castenada books hit the bookstore, and I quit reading half way through his series, because he lost me in the twist and turns of his learning process. When I began reading Hank's SpiritWalker, it was with serious reservatons; however, I quickly moved on to MedicineMaker with enthusiasm. I liked Hank's intellectual grasp of the indigenous point of view, combined with his *field-note* anthropological mentality, which was a good mix with my own blend of white-urban core shamanistic practice. Soon, VisionSeeker was published. I bought a copy and started reading. I began to underline whole paragraphs to reread. For me, in VisionSeeker, Hank succeeded in pulling together the esoteric teachings, that rest on the shamanistic foundation he developed in his two preceding volumes. Granted, I am of mystical persuasion, so Hank's use of symbolism and metaphor was not lost on me. Hawaiian mysticism is easy to understand within Hank's storytelling context. I encourage you to buy a copy of this book for your library, since there are few volumes that will teach you more. Thanks Hank, for living your life so authentically. I have benefitted from your written experience. And, if you have a chance to spend some time with Hank personally, DO IT.

27 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Visionseeker goes beyond Castaneda, August 31, 2001

By	M. Walther (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Visionseeker: Shared Wisdom from the Place of Refuge (Hardcover)

Castaneda fans, don't miss Dr. Wesselman's books. "Visionseeker" is absolutely mandatory reading for anyone seriously interested in shamanism.

While Carlos Castaneda went through years of training to become a shaman of the Toltec tradition, his description of the events, as spell-binding and out-of-this-world as they have been for me for three decades, have left many loose ends. This is attributable to linguistic limitations of describing the teachings of the left and the right sides, i.e. the explanations and exercises during the "normal" waking state, and the teachings during "heightened awareness", allowing direct access to "knowledge" in linguistically uncharted territory. Dr. Wesselman's trance journeys resemble heightened states of awareness, probably within the narrow band of intense consciousness experienced while falling asleep, just before going under, when images become vividly 3-dimensional and absolutely engaging. This is the shamanic state of "Dreaming Awake" which is traditionally held in suspension through monotonous drumming, chanting, dancing, or psychedelic drugs. Dr. Wesselmann's entry into this kahuna-shamanic state of awareness is accompanied by surges of energy, a doubling of brain wave activity (see footnotes of chapter 14) which is most likely the effect felt when linking up with an "entity" or spirit helper. Castaneda also was told repeatedly by his mentor Don Juan that "speed" was necessary when encountering or attracting the allies, or when coping with the Abstract. While Castaneda either had little innate ability, low personal energy, or due to his reluctance to accept his experiences which never left him, he always needed a push on his so-called "assemblage point" to mobilize it. Dr. Wesselmann has the natural ability to shift awareness, triggered in his case by the emotional outburst of sexual energy, to assemble new realities and to act within them, including complete recapitulation of the events. Although Castaneda's description and use of the "inorganic beings", those entities that are indispensable in shamanic work, is very similar to Dr. Wesselmann's dealings with the "leopard man", the dorajuadiok, and Pele, Castaneda's encounters always seemed dreadfully disturbing to his core. This may be due to Castaneda approaching the subject as a reluctant, fearful, and possibly inadequate apprentice, while Dr. Wesselmann seems naturally skilled and familiar with these entities right from the start.

Despite Castaneda's inadequacies or because of them, however, he introduced to millions of readers the mysterious side of us human beings and the world we live in, preparing us for what Dr. Wesselman has to offer. His description of a master program, hidden deep within our DNA and which needs activation by an outside agent, is most intriguing and novel in his conclusions. Apparently, a shamanic dismemberment and reassembly ritual is key to installing and activating this master program, a notion which can be found among indigenous shamans throughout the world. There is some discussion of how this happens and who is doing it, and Dr. Wesselmann authenticates himself as an initiated shaman by his description of such a ritual while he is preparing to journey to The Source, together with his future relative as a backup. In Castaneda's case, Don Juan probably loaded and activated this program during heightened awareness (replacing Castaneda's energy with his own), forcing Carlos to painstakingly recapitulating these events by moving his assemblage point minutely to those precise locations during the time of the teachings, a task that was taking him a lifetime. However, this kept the reluctant apprentice on his path of discovery and towards his task as a nagual.

Those evolved entities (also called allies, elementals, spiritual masters) seem to have a higher purpose beyond human comprehension and who are the caretakers and gatekeepers of large-scale domains, complex planetary and celestial systems. This reminds one of the ancient Greek pantheon, or the myths and legends from all over the ancient world, when these entities seem to have been much more involved in human affairs. Dr. Wesselman hints at the possibility that these interactions are responsible for human evolution. Now, these entities seem to pick one or the other human, activate the master program and channel through that individual. Once the master program has been switched on, journeying into the unknown tends to be easy, not requiring many specific steps beyond a steadfast desire to succeed. In this way, facets of the unknown, even the unknowable (The Source from which everything emanates), become accessible or can be observed. In Castaneda's terms, the shaman may acquire the ability to soar past The Eagle (The Source) to total freedom (beyond Karma?). Those who make it successfully past The Eagle may be new gods in the making (Nietzsche could have said that). In any event, shamans are scouts into the unknown, the seeing among the blind, and it is interesting that the once top-secret activities of shamans are reemerging during a time of worldwide climatic, economic and geopolitical changes.

Dr. Wesselmann's great contribution to making shamanism palpable to the interested reader is the ease with which he maneuvers between normal waking and shamanic awareness, combined with a good story, baffling discoveries and insights, using contemporary mythologic and archetypal concepts. I expect much more to come on the following topics: purpose of mankind on this planet and where we came from, the Ao Aumakua state, some useful exercises to activate the master program, or to get in touch with an entity, the causes and events leading to the severe shrinkage of the human population in the near future, on the nature of the different entities and their spheres of existence, on healing and the connectivity of living and inanimate things and how events, decisions, and actions affect each other, on why the average person is unaware of all this, on the Web, more journeys to the Source, on the nature of Light and Sound, on chaos and negative/negating aspects, past civilizations, etc.

Evolve, keep on dreaming!

MW